General

Sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snow sculpting are among the activities Morrisville State College students will be partaking in during Winter Fest, Feb. 19. Events, which are free and open to the public, will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building and the Morrisville-Eaton Elementary School baseball field, both located on Eaton Street.

Morrisville State College, in partnership with Norse Energy Corp, is hosting two free informational workshops on potential careers in the natural gas industry. The workshops will be held at the college's Norwich campus Feb. 16, from 6-7 p.m., in the community room of Roger Follett Hall, and at the Morrisville campus March 9, from 6-7 p.m., in Charlton Hall, room 125.

Michael Oot, of Munnsville, has been appointed by former Gov. David Paterson to serve on the College Council at Morrisville State College. Oot, an attorney and partner in the firm of Oot & Stratton, with offices in E. Syracuse and Sherrill, is an active member of the local community, serving as co-founder, board member and vice president of the Stockbridge Valley Educational Foundation, a New York state not-for-profit designed to raise funds for the enhancement of the educational experience at the school. Oot also served as past president of the Stockbridge Valley Central School Board.

The State University of New York Board of Trustees today appointed Richard J. Carreno, of Manlius, N.Y., interim president at Morrisville State College. He is serving currently on a part-time basis as assistant to the president. His appointment is effective Jan. 13, 2011. Morrisville State College President Raymond Cross will step down in February 2011, after 13 years as president of the college, to become chancellor of University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin Extension.

Morrisville State College students will be among thousands of participants from all over the world taking part in the 2011 International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Global Game Jam (GGJ) Jan. 28-30. And for the second year, the college is hosting teams on its campus, inviting amateurs, professionals, students, faculty, hobbyists and anyone with a passion for making games to participate. This year, there are more than 150 GGJ host locations across the globe. Morrisville is one of only five host sites in New York state.

Morrisville State College's Norwich campus will host a public speaking program by alumnus and well-known powerful speaker, Fred Ashforth, on Jan. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon in Roger Follett Hall. Ashforth's program, How to Become a Powerful Presenter: So Your Audiences Will Listen, Remember and Act, intended for individuals in leadership, management, sales and marketing, development, human resources, public relations, research and development, will teach how to communicate more effectively, connect with audiences and generate income from speaking.

David Rogers has been named vice president for academic affairs at Morrisville State College. Rogers, of Nelson, N.Y., has served as dean of the college's School of Business since June 1999. During that time, he has been instrumental in providing leadership for curriculum and program development and has provided strong guidance for the department. He has also led the school in the development and creation of the Morrisville State College Entrepreneurial Institute (MSCEI) and Morrisville VentureConnects, now offered through a partnership with The Tech Garden.

Lucy and Michael Kessler's maroon Chrysler PT Cruiser is much more to them than a set of wheels. It represents the effort and work of many hearts and hands. The Kessler's are one of 75 working families who have received a vehicle through the Keys to Work program, a partnership with Morrisville State College, Community Action Partnership (CAP) of Madison County, and Alliance Bank.

Morrisville State College Professor Dr. Emad Rahim was recently recognized for his entrepreneurial endeavors. Rahim, of Syracuse, assistant professor of entrepreneurship and small business management, received a 2010 Entrepreneurship Teaching Excellence Award from the Experiential Classroom XI Program and has also been named a 2011 Beyster Institute Scholar Fellow.

Mark Ashton has seen and performed his share of car repairs as an automotive instructor at Morrisville State College and through his work in the auto industry. But none have had the profound impact as what he has been a part of through the Keys to Work Initiative with Madison County Community Action Partnership (CAP). Ashton, an instructional support associate, heads Morrisville State College's effort in the initiative—providing needed repairs on vehicles which CAP helps community members obtain, based on need, to secure transportation to work.